Feeder for little pigs



June 12, 1956 v. 0. E. GUSTAFSON FEEDER FOR LITTLE PIGS Filed Oct. 2, 1953 INVENTOR.

V/EOA/ O. 5. Gus TAFzsoA/ United States Patent FEEDER FOR LITTLE PIGS Viron O. E. Gnstafson, Sparland, ill.

Application October 2, 1953, Serial No. 383,772

3 Claims. (Cl. 11952) This invention relates to an improved self-feeder for little pigs, and among important objects of the invention are to provide a more practical and eflicient feeder of this character which, while preventing sows from reaching the feed, provides a sheltered place for the little pigs to feed, and which incorporates improved means of access to the interior of the feeder while the little pigs are feeding, for inspection and replenishment of the feed or for other purposes, and which incorporates also feed flow regulating means which provides means also for agitating the feed when desired.

Another important object of the invention is to provide device of the character indicated above which can be made in a rugged and serviceable form at relatively low cost.

Other important objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein, for purposes of illustration only, a specific form of the invention is set forth in detail.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front perspective view with the lid closed; and

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the illustrated feeder comprises an elongated rectangular housing having a bottom wall or floor 3 having a front longitudinal edge 4, a rear longitudinal edge 5, and end edges 6, 6. The floor is set up off the ground by means of elongated blocks 7 and 8, which are secured to the underside of the floor 3 near to the front and rear edges 4 and 5, respectively.

Similar open frames are mounted at the ends of the floor 3 which comprise transverse horizontal lower bars 9, relatively short or low front vertical bars 10, relatively tall or high rear vertical bars 11, forwardly declining top bars 12, and forwardly inclined intermediate bars 13, these various bars being secured together in butted relation, with the lower bars 9 secured to the floor 3.

Suitable sheathing, wallboard or the like end panels 14, 14 conforming in shape to the end frames are secured on the outer sides thereof.

A horizontal longitudinal frame bar 15 arranged parallel to the floor 3 and spaced upwardly from the floor at a distance too small to permit entrance of a sow into the feeder, but ample to permit entrance thereinto of small young pigs, extends between and is fixed to upper end portions of the short front vertical bars 10 of the end frames.

Upper and lower parallel rear horizontal bars 16 and 17 extend between and are secured to upper and lower end portions, respectively, of the rear taller vertical bars 11. of the end frames, and a suitable back panel 18 is secured to the bars 11, 16, and 17 and to the rear ends of the declining top bars 12, so as to provide a closed back for the feeder.

2,749,881 Patented June 12, 1956 A top or lid 20 is shaped and proportioned to fit and overlie the top of the above described structure and is hinged at its forward edge 21 to the front top bar 15, as indicated at 22, so that the lid 20 can be swung upwardly from the closed position shown in full lines in Figure 2 to the open position shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, to provide access to the interior of the feeder. Depending side strips 23, 23 and a depending back strip 24 are secured to the end edges and rear edge of the lid to overlie the gaps between the lid 20 and the top of the feeder when the lid 20 is closed so as to prevent entrance of wind, rain, and snow.

The area 25 of the floor 3 forwardly from the intermediate inclined bars 13 is ample sheltered standing space for little pigs. Behind the space 25 a feed gate 26 is positioned behind the intermediate bars 13 and has a lower edge 27 which is arranged to rest upon the lower bars 9, 9 of the end frames, so as to be spaced above the floor 3 and provide for the gravitational passage of feed 29 deposited to the desired level behind the gate 26. The gate 26 is loosely positioned in place, so that, when desired, it can be moved rearwardly to agitate the feed 29, and can be easily reached from the feeder to facilitate cleaning thereof and of the feeder, such cleaning being facilitated by the complete access provided to the interior of the feeder by the relatively great size and hinged character of the lid 20 and its arrangement.

A bar 30 is secured to the floor 3 forwardly of and spaced below the lower edge 27 of the gate 26 to provide a space 28 through which the feed 29 can reach the standing space 25. The bar 30 holds the feed 29 in place behind the gate 26 and prevents the feed from spreading onto the floor 3 and the standing space 25.

It is also to be noted that the particular end frames employed and the relation thereto of the other bars, the floor, and the panels provides a rigid and strongly braced structure without excess weight, which is thereby capable of being moved and transported without difiiculty and without likelihood of breaking or loosening up of the feeder.

What is claimed is:

1. In a feeder for little pigs, a rectangular housing having a horizontal floor having a forward edge, a vertical rear wall rising above said floor and having an upper edge, vertical end walls extending forwardly from said rear wall along opposite ends of said floor, horizontal bars on top of said floor along the inner sides of said end walls, forwardly inclined intermediate bars rising from said horizontal bars along the inner sides of the end walls, said intermediate bars having rear sides and being spaced forwardly from said rear wall, and a removable feed gate comprising a vertical plate having a lower edge, said plate extending between said end walls and freely bearing against the rear sides of the intermediate bars with the lower edge of the plate supportably resting upon said horizontal bars, so as to define a feed passage between the lower edge of the plate and the floor.

2. In a feeder for little pigs, a rectangular housing having a horizontal fioor having a forward edge, a vertical rear wall rising above said floor and having an upper edge, vertical end walls extending forwardly from said rear wall along opposite ends of said floor, horizontal bars on top of said floor along the inner sides of said end walls, forwardly inclined intermediate bars rising from said horizontal bars along the inner sides of the end walls, said intermediate bars having rear sides and being spaced forwardly from said rear wall, and a removable feed gate comprising a vertical plate having a lower edge, said plate extending between said end walls and freely bearing against the rear sides of the intermediate bars with the lower edge of the plate supportably resting upon said horizontal bars, so as to define a feed passage between the feed gate plate.

3. In a feeder for little pigs, a rectangular housing having a horizontal floor having a forward edge, a vertical rear wall rising above said floor and having an upper end, vertical end walls extending forwardly from said rear wall along opposite ends of said floor, horizontal bars on top of said floor along the inner sides of said end walls, forwardly inclined intermediate bars rising from said horizontal bars along the inner sides of the end walls, said intermediate bars having rear sides and being spaced forwardly from said rear wall, and a removable feed gate comprising a vertical plate having a lower edge, said plate extending between said end walls and freely bearing against the rear sides of the intermediate bars with the lower edge of the plate supportably resting upon said horizontal bars, so as to define a feed passage between the lower edge of the plate and the floor, and another bar upon said floor extending between the end walls, said other bar being spaced forwardly from the lower edge of the feed gate plate, the space between said other bar and the forward edge of the floor constituting a standing space and the space between the feed gate plate and said rear wall constituting a feed space, and a removable lid resting upon the upper edges of the rear wall and end walls and covering said standing space and said feed space.

Eta-terraces Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,230,058 Hornung Jan. 28, 1941 2,349,868 Hyde May 30, 1944 2,352,859 Palmer July 4, 1944 2,666,415 Scruggs Jan. 19, 1954 2,673,551 McAnly Mar. 30, 1954 

